HUNG PARLIAMENT

There are 650 seats for MPs in the UK parliament but the 7 Sinn Fein MPs never turn up so there are really only 643 which means the actual number of MPs required to avoid a hung parliament is 322. As the Tories are projected to get 319 that means they could easily run a minority government particularly with regard to Brexit because Labour agree that Brexit must happen. However, Theresa may have to compromise on some of her policies, for example: “No deal is better than a bad deal!”. She may also have to compromise on the triple lock for pensions and Winter Fuel Allowance. Only if a motion of No Confidence is raised and won need Theresa resign as prime minister. A lost vote on the Queen’s Speech would be the first opportunity for this so Theresa will have to ensure that the Queen’s Speech outlines a program for which she will get a majority vote and the 10 MPs of the DUP in Northern Ireland will no doubt ensure that happens in exchange for some small compromise!

 

QUOTE FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY RULES ON GOVERNMENT FORMATION

“11. A hung parliament need not result in a coalition. Harold Wilson led a minority government between the February and October 1974 elections, and the Scottish National Party formed a minority government after the 2007 election in Scotland, replacing a coalition government. There are also examples of governments losing their majorities and governing in a minority. Whether the apparent assumption before 2010 that minority governments would result from hung parliaments at Westminster has been replaced by a new assumption that coalition governments will be formed cannot be known until the situation occurs in future.[6] Among our witnesses, Lord Donoughue was alone in advocating minority government over coalition.[7] If the decision over whether to form a coalition or a minority administration arises in future, it is likely that parliamentary arithmetic and circumstances will influence actions more than precedents.”

See www.publications.parliament.uk for the full text!